d an intrigue with the lovely
Amena. Though Alovisa in a second billet bids him aim at a higher mark,
"he had said too many fine things to be lost," and continues his pursuit
until Amena's father takes alarm and locks her up. Through her maid she
arranges for a secret meeting, and though touched by her father's
reproofs, she is unable to withstand the pleas of the captivating count.
Their tete-a-tete in the Tuilleries, however, is interrupted by
Alovisa's spies, who alarm the house with cries of fire, so that the
lovers find themselves locked out. Half senseless with dismay, Amena
finds shelter in the house of Alovisa, who, though inwardly triumphant,
receives her rival civilly and promises to reconcile her to her father.
D'Elmont is so patently glad to be relieved of his fair charge that she
demands back her letter, but he by mistake gives her one of Alovisa's,
whose handwriting she immediately recognizes. When the polite Count
returns to enquire after her health, she accuses her lover and friend of
duplicity, faints, and letting fall Alovisa's letter from her bosom,
brings about an _eclaircissement_ between D'Elmont and that lady. Before
Amena's recovery the Count hastens away to welcome his brother, and when
the imprudent girl has been safely lodged in a convent, D'Elmont, moved
more by ambition than by love, weds the languishing Alovisa.

After his marriage the Count soon quarrels with his wife and consoles
himself by falling in love with his ward, the matchless Melliora, but
the progress of his amour is interrupted by numerous unforeseen
accidents. The mere suspicion of his inconstancy raises his wife's
jealousy to a fever heat. To expose her rival she pretends to yield to
the persuasions of her wooer, the Baron D'Espernay, but as a result of a
very intricate intrigue both Alovisa and the Baron perish accidentally
on the swords of D'Elmont and his brother.

Melliora retires to a convent, and her lover goes to travel in Italy,
where his charms cause one lady to take poison for love of him, and
another to follow him disguised as the little foot-page Fidelio. In
helping Melliora's brother to elope with a beautiful Italian girl, the
Count again encounters his beloved Melliora, now pursued by the Marquis
de Sanguillier. In a dramatic _denouement_ she deserts the Marquis at
the altar and throws herself upon the protection of her guardian. The
disappointed bridegroom is consoled by the discovery of an old flame who
has l